Many thanks to CataystSaturn for sending in his photos of the new Saturn SCT Concept on display at the International Auto Salon. I've posted his pictures are online <!--http--><a href="http://64.77.2.166/cgi-bin/imagefolio/imagefolio.cgi?direct=2001_SCT" target="_blank">here</a><!--url-->.

Official Description:

Saturn and General Motors teamed together and developed this enhanced SC2. The "T" designation stands for tuned and takes the performance level of the SC2 one step further. This vehicle represents the possibility of Saturn's first step in producing a high performance coupe specifically for the sport compact car segment.

I likey. I likey a lot. Keep the orange paint job and up the wheels to 17"!

The price is the only thing about that car that would concern me. The SC2 is already kind of pricey for what you get. I wouldn't want to see a car like this sell for over $20,000. While some might see $20K as a bargain for the SCT, I don't. Give me a $16-$17K price tag and that would be a true pocket rocket!

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Looks good! Wish they would do something like that to the SL2, since I like 4-doors better than 2. The Burnt Orange is a popular color now. Thats all I saw at the Chicago Auto Show. The only thing we can hope for is that they make something like that in the near future.
Kevin
'96 SL2

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Have you ever noticed that all of these special show cars have features that Saturn tells us we don't need. Little things like four wheel disc brakes, more power, 16" wheels.

If these things aren't really needed, then pray tell, why does Saturn keep rolling them out on these cars? If they are really such a good idea that Saturn has to keep rolling them out, then why isn't this rolling out of the doors at Spring Hill?

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I must admit my view of the SCT concept is rather mixed. On one hand its nice to see that Saturn is still showing interest in at least taking a stab at the performance end of the sport compact car market. But on the other hand we have seen concept cars like this before from Saturn (like the Saturn/SPS concept car and the more recent Turbo SC) and then nothing.

This car does seem to be equiped with some of the aftermarket parts that Saturn announced would be for sale from the retailers this summer/fall, especially the intake and cat-back exhaust. But when you look at what Nissan (2002 Sentra SE-R 170-180hp) and Ford (SVT Focus 170hp) will be bringing out in the next 6 months or so, the modifications that Saturn has made to the SCT seem rather dismal. I guess we'll just have to wait some more and see how serious Saturn is about performance.

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The SCT is a nice looking car, but what's with this "General Motors and Saturn have teamed up" business? Weren't they always a "team"? It's kind of like saying, "Bill Gates and Microsoft have teamed up." GM seems to be going out of its way lately associate the General Motors name with its individual brands. This is the exact opposite of their approach in the past.

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Have to agree with DVader, until I see the products signed, sealed, and delivered to Saturn retailers across the North American continent, it's just one big yawn. Saturn cried wolf too many times.
- Wei

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Nice but I have one complaint. If they do keep the colour (I love that orange), they should do something with the yellow parts of the tail lights. Maybe tint it like the Turbo concept (I think). Not sure about the legality of that though...

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I love it! I can't wait until next summer, when I buying my next Saturn... I hate the wait!

I have one question if anyone know the answer... I know there's not a lot of performance mods listed here, but how much horsepowers do you think the intake and throttle body in that list could provide? Even if not much, its surely more than 124hp... ?

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Random thought on this topic: how about having SPS be contracted by Saturn to build/supply performance parts. They could do any of the following:

1) Have Spring Hill send SPS cars for customization and SPS will send them to retailers for sale as special editions (like SLP did for the Camaro/Firebird or what Ford does with its SVT cars)

or

2) SPS designs kits and sends them to Saturn retailers for sale and installation or people can install the kits themselves. They could be covered under the factory warranty if installed by the retailer.

I know this is probably a pipe dream, but I'd like to know what you would think of something like this.

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Sorry, but they took the "sport" out of the "sport coupe" as soon as they added that 3rd door - and the 50 pounds of excess flab it added to the car - which did a great deal more to detract from the coupe's performance than any modest horsepower gain could hope to bring back!

Any serious performance version of the SC MUST start with the 3rd door becoming an unexcercised OPTION!!

Then go back to the last body style and get rid of this latest bloated looking thing that makes me yearn for the original short wheelbase coupe to return!

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